Abstract: Room temperature vulcanisable (RTV) silicone compositions which are storage stable, have good freeze/thaw characteristics in the absence of polar solvents and which cure to a low modulus silicone elastomer and a process for making same. The composition contains (i) 100 parts by weight of a hydroxyl endblocked polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity at 25° C., of from 5 to 100 Pa·s (ii) one or more fillers, optionally treated to be rendered hydrophobic, (iii) from 2.5 to 10 parts by weight of methylvinyldi(N-ethylacetamido)silane, (iv) from 1 to 6 parts by weight of an aminoxysilicon compound having from 1 to 100 silicon atoms per molecule and from 3 to 10 aminoxy groups per molecule. The composition no i.e. zero (0) parts of a polar solvent selected from, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), acetonitrile and N-n-butylacetamide and does not visibly partially crystallize when stored at a temperature of 5° C. or less.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photovoltaic cell module and a process of applying a silicone based hot melt encapsulant material (102a, 104a) onto photovoltaic cells (103a) to form a photovoltaic cell module. There is provided a photovoltaic array with more efficient manufacturing and better utilization of the solar spectrum by using silicone hot melt sheets (102a, 104a) to give a silicone encapsulant photovoltaic device with the process ease of an organic encapsulant but the optical and chemical advantages of a silicone encapsulant. There is further provided a method for fabricating photovoltaic cells with increased throughput and optical efficiency when compared to prior art encapsulation methods. The preferred silicone material is provided in flexible sheet with hot melt properties and low surface tack.